7 Surprising Facts About Men’s Health: They Die Sooner, More Likely To Get Struck By Lightning, And More

Former President Bill Clinton established National Men’s Health Week in 1994 and it has been celebrated every year since. It serves as a way to encourage the men and boys in our lives to embrace healthy habits. This year, it’s honored the week of June 12 through 18.

Despite all the technological advances, many men continue to suffer from a long list of distinctive health issues such as shorter life spans, President Donald J. Trump said in a statement.

“Many men visit their healthcare providers less frequently than women,” he notes. “One in three American men suffers from a condition related to cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for men.”

Celebrating the week is a way to spread awareness about issues many men face. Here’s 7 surprising facts about men’s health:

1. Men live about 5 fewer years than women

Women outlive men in every country in the world. In the United States, men typically live 76.3 years, while women have a life expectancy of 81.2 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC).

2. Men are more likely to die from heart disease

Men die more often from heart disease than women do. They’re also more likely to die from the disease at a younger age, according to Harvard Health Publications.

3. Men are more likely to be killed or injured by lightning

In a CDC report spanning a 43-year time period, lighting consistently killed more men than women every year. From 1968 to 2010, about 85 percent of deaths were men. The reason for this is not included in the report, but another study suggests it may because men participate in more leisure activities that expose them to lighting strikes, such as fishing and camping.

4. Men are less likely to go to the doctor

Both men and women avoid the doctor for a number of reasons, but men in particular schedule visits far less often. But why? In an online health survey by the Orlando Health hospital system, men stated these as their top three reasons: too busy to go, afraid of finding out what might be wrong, and uncomfortable with body exams such as prostate or rectal checks.

5. Men commit suicide more often than women

Although women make more non-fatal suicide attempts, men are more likely to complete a suicide. One reason for this may be because men are less likely to seek care for depression and other mental illnesses, according to Harvard Health Publications.

6. Men are more likely to use tobacco

7. Men are more likely to drink excessively

Men are more likely to drink excessively than women and they are also more likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as driving fast or without a seatbelt. When these behaviors are combined with alcohol, the risk of injury and death increases.